Disposable bath puff

ABSTRACT

A bath puff having a source of soap embedded therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/010,628 filed Jan. 10, 2008. The instant invention is in the field of bath accessories and more specifically the instant invention is in the field of bath puffs.

Bath puffs (also known as bath sponges, luffas, loofas and loofahs) are common bathing accessories. In use, a bathing soap is applied to the bath puff and then the puff is rubbed on the skin, usually in a shower. United States Patents D532,158; D532,554; D535,438 and D535,439 show various bath puff designs. A wash cloth can be used as an alternative to a bath puff.

Bath puffs and wash cloths can be of questionable sanitary condition when supplied to travelers by a hotel or motel. Personal bath puffs, wash cloths and soap carried by travelers can become unsanitary when used and then packed in luggage. It would be an advance in the art if a bath puff were discovered that could be discarded after use and which provided its own source of soap.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention provides a solution to the above-stated problems. The improved bath puff of the instant invention can be discarded after use and provides its own source of soap. More specifically, the improvement of the instant invention is to position a source of soap within a bath puff. The result is an improved bath puff that can be positioned within a sealed plastic enclosure for convenient and sanitary one time use when needed. The improved bath puff of the instant invention can be provided by a hotel or motel as complimentary enhancement to a travelers experience at the hotel or motel. Or, a traveler can carry the improved bath puff of the instant invention in his or her luggage. A primary benefit of the instant invention is the elimination of the need to pack a wet bar of soap and/or a wet bath puff when traveling. Another benefit of the instant invention is the avoidance of bath puffs or wash cloths provided by a hotel or motel that may be of questionable sanitary condition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an improved bath puff of the instant invention containing a source of soap therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to Fig. 1, therein is shown an improved bath puff 10 of the instant invention. The improved bath puff 10 consists of a knitted textile material 11 and a water soluble gelatin capsule 12. The capsule 12 contains liquid bath soap. Preferably, the bath puff 10 is contained in a sealed plastic pouch. In use, the sealed plastic pouch is torn open, the bath puff 10 is removed and used in bathing (usually in a shower) so that the water soluble gelatin capsule 12 dissolves thereby releasing the liquid bath soap contained therein. The improved bath puff 10 is made by filling a 000 size gelatine capsule (Capsuline, Inc., Pompano Beach, Fla.) with IVORY brand shower gel (Proctor and Gamble, Cincinnati Ohio) and inserting the filled capsule into the center of a LOVE PUFF BATH NET brand bath puff available on amazon.com by the steps of: (a) inserting a sharpened wooden dowel into the center of the bath puff; (b) withdrawing the dowel from the bath puff thereby leaving a channel into the bath puff; (c) inserting the filled capsule into the bath puff along the channel formed by the sharpened dowel; and (d) manipulating the bath puff to close the channel to contain the filled capsule in the bath puff.

It should be understood that any suitable water soluble material can be used to contain the liquid body soap. It should be understood that any suitable source of soap can be used in the instant invention including a liquid body soap contained in a breakable but non-water soluble pouch. It should be understood that the term “liquid body soap” encompasses soaps and detergents. It should be understood that the bath puff 11 can be derived from natural or synthetic materials. For example, and without limitation thereto, the bath puff 11 can be derived from the luffa plant or made from knitted synthetic textile material. It should be understood that any source of soap can be used in the instant invention including a small bar of soap positioned within the puff.

CONCLUSION

While the instant invention has been described above according to its preferred embodiments, it can be modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the instant invention using the general principles disclosed herein. Further, the instant application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the following claims. 

1. An improved bath puff, wherein the improvement comprises a source of soap embedded within a bath puff.
 2. The improved bath puff of claim 1, wherein the source of soap is a water-soluble capsule containing a liquid body soap.
 3. The improved bath puff of claim 1, wherein the source of soap is a breakable pouch containing a liquid body soap.
 4. The improved bath puff of claim 1, wherein the source of soap is a small bar of soap.
 5. The improved bath puff of claim 1, wherein the bath puff comprises a knitted textile material.
 6. The improved bath puff of claim 1, wherein the bath puff comprises a natural material.
 7. The improved bath puff of claim 6, wherein the natural material is derived from a luffa plant.
 8. The improved bath puff of claim 1, further comprising a sealed plastic enclosure enclosing the improved bath puff. 